Maine’s top three-year-old pacing filly, Gowestyounggrace, picked up her eighth consecutive victory on Monday, Sept. 16 at Farmington when the 183rd annual Farmington Fair welcomed the Maine Sire Stakes for a full week of harness racing. 

Leaving from pylon position in her $26,922 division, the only question that remained after the start was ‘how fast’ and by ‘how many’ the daughter of Western Maverick-Gracie Gracie would celebrate her triumph.

Regular pilot Dave Ingraham set comfortable first half fractions of :29.1 and :59 while well in command of the field of distaffs. Past the 1:28.2 third panel, it was clearly a race for second as the outer flow was stacked up behind Animore Sass (Andy Harrington) and a three-deep My Sweet Revenge (Kevin Switzer Jr.). Down the stretch, Ingraham let out a notch and let the filly pace a :28.4 final quarter to score by three lengths in 1:57.1, which was a new lifetime mark and her 14th lifetime win.

Owner, trainer and breeder Fred Ward Jr., along with his wife Sharon, have developed the leading point earner in the division, with her career bankroll now at $171,378. 

Gowestyounggrace paid just $2.20 as the heavy favourite. My Sweet Revenge finished second and Emma Rozze (Heath Campbell) was third.

The second division also featured a rail-sitter, Whos Perfect, who also led every step of the way with Aaron Hall in the bike for trainer Valerie Grondin. Winning in 1:59.4 by two lengths, it was that daughter of Western Maverick’s fourth seasonal victory. She is owned and was bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe, and carries nearly $150,000 on her card. Also the heavy favourite, Whos Perfect paid $2.20 to win. Ghost Of You (Switzer) finished second and Summertime (Harrington) was third.

The Maine Sire Stakes program is celebrating it’s 50th year of competition, highlighting the Standardbred colts and fillies that have been bred, foaled and raised to race. Not only has the series attracted thousands of fans over the years, but has been a centerpiece of the pari-mutuel county fair racing that has thrived in the New England region. The Maine Sire Stakes program is vital to the economic development and farmland preservation of the area, having resulted in a total capital investment in breeding stock, equipment, buildings, etc. of more $9 million USD over a five-year period.

The Maine Sire Stakes resumes at the Farmington Fair continues through Friday, Sept. 20.

(With files from Maine Sire Stakes)